Free A Million Wishes by Deanna Felthauser Page B

happened but she’d swear her mother had just fluttered down from Heaven and kissed her cheek, loving on her. Fresh tears streaked her face and she closed her eyes a moment. The healing was beginning. She had to let go of the hurt and fear and embrace life because it was way too short and precious not too. She had to try to learn to trust again. She deserved to be happy and in love. Noah deserved it more than anyone.
     
    Step one. Read the letter Momma wrote her.
     
    Step two. Finish the eulogy and get through the funeral.
     
    Step three. Take her finals and graduate.
     
    Step four. Move back to Sugar Creek and love her Noah as much as she possibly could.
     
    Once she and Callum got back to his house she did just that. Sitting in the den by herself, Miki slid her finger under the sealed flap of the envelope and pulled out the piece of paper that was typed but had her mother’s signature at the bottom.
     
    Dear Mikayla,
     
    My sweet baby girl, I first want to tell you how proud I am of you. I have kept every article you have ever written in a big binder by my bed. Every time I missed you and wanted to feel close I would flip through it and wish over and over that I could turn back time and change so many things. I’m so sorry Miki for all the things I said and did, all the times I hurt you and over looked you being abused. I have no excuse other than my own bitter soul and alcohol addiction that ruined my life and nearly yours. I was so blind to things back then Miki, so stubborn and had so much pain in my heart I took it out on you and I shouldn’t have. I should have protected you instead of myself and I will forever regret and hate myself for what happened to you. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I am asking for it. I’m asking you to please find a way to let go of your awful childhood and continue on with your life and be happy. You deserve the world handed to you on a silver platter darling girl. You are so damn smart and so beautiful with such a loving heart. I’m so sorry I never returned phone calls or letters. I was so ashamed of myself when Lucas admitted to me on his deathbed that he did do all those awful things to you. Please don’t let him ruin your life though Mikayla. Open yourself up to love like your father gave me. It’s a beautiful thing and I want that for you so bad, more than anyone. I love you Mikayla. I am so very sorry for not believing and protecting you.
     
    With all the love in my heart,
     
    Your Mother
     
    For the first time in a very long time, Miki felt peace in her heart towards her mother, real peace. She folded the letter and tucked it back in the envelope and wiped her eyes. It was time to finish writing the eulogy. Tomorrow she would be busy helping her sister in law grocery shop and start preparing for Thanksgiving. Everyone was coming to Callum’s house for dinner and to watch football.
     
    She needed to be alone while she wrote; she needed fresh air and solitude. There was only one place that would offer what she needed. Miki grabbed her jacket, truck keys and journal. Leaving a note on the kitchen counter for her brother she left there heading for her mother’s house, her house now. Once she pulled in the driveway and put the truck in park, Miki knew she couldn’t go inside. Not yet. So she made her way through the field to the old oak tree, deftly climbing up and sitting in her spot, taking a few moments just to close her eyes and breathe deep.
     
    Memories flooded her, washed over her senses so fluidly she could hear the sounds of her childhood, smell the scents and feel it all around her as if it was yesterday. Momma was in the kitchen, teaching her how to make peanut butter kiss cookies. Her first job was unwrapping dozens of Hershey Kisses, sneaking one here and there while Momma got all the ingredients out. When Momma was in the mood to bake she didn’t just make one batch. One batch would be gone in seconds with all us kids and Daddy around. No,